Recent Blog Posts

Sore throats are a common symptom that can leave you wondering whether you’re dealing with something mild, like a cold, or a more serious condition, such as strep throat. While both conditions share overlapping symptoms, there are key differences that can help you identify the cause of your discomfort. Understanding these differences can guide you in deciding when to seek medical care. For same-day sore throat relief, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent ...

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Stomach pain after eating can be a cause for concern, especially if it happens frequently. Learn more about treating frequent and occasional stomach pain. Save Your Spot Table of Contents Potential Causes and Treatments Upper Stomach vs. Lower Stomach Pain What To Do If Other Symptoms, like Diarrhea, Accompany the Stomach Pain What Do I Do If My Stomach Pain After Eating is Frequent? When Do I Need to See a Medical Provider? Potential Causes and Treatments ...

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Ear bleeding can be a sign of serious medical problems, especially if you’ve fallen or had head trauma. Explore potential ear bleeding causes and treatments. Save Your Spot Table of Contents Middle or Outer Ear Infection Head Trauma or Falling Torn or Ruptured Eardrum Foreign Object Barotrauma Other Infections Other Symptoms To Watch For When To Visit a Healthcare Provider Visit Your Local AFC Middle or Outer Ear Infection Infections in the ear, whether in the ...

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A lingering cough after a cold can be irritating and exhausting. Use these tips to get rid of your residual cough. Table of Contents What Causes a Lingering Cough How to Get Rid of a Chronic Cough Medications to Try When to See a Provider Visit Your Local AFC What Causes a Lingering Cough One of the most common causes of a chronic cough is a postnasal drip caused by allergies or a cold. Plus ...

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The holiday season is full of joy, excitement, and festivities. However, it’s also the time of year when colds and the flu seem to make their unwelcome appearance. After the celebrations are over, many people find themselves battling the sniffles, sore throat, or fatigue that comes with a cold or the flu. If you’re recovering from a post-holiday cold or flu, you’re not alone, and there are steps you can take to ...

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Bronchitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the lungs. It is commonly triggered by a viral infection, but it can also result from bacterial infections or irritants such as smoke and pollutants. Bronchitis is typically characterized by symptoms like coughing, mucus production, and shortness of breath. While the condition can be uncomfortable, many people wonder how long it will take to recover from bronchitis and ...

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Technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, including our bedtime routines. Many people use electronic devices right before bed, whether scrolling through social media, watching TV, or responding to emails, leading to much research into the relationship between technology and sleep. Join us as we explore how technology affects sleep, debunk common myths, and offer practical tips for creating a more restful, tech-free sleep environment. Table of Contents How Technology and Sleep ...

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Vertigo is common yet unsettling - for some, vertigo is a mild inconvenience, while it can significantly disrupt daily life for others. But how long does vertigo last? Whether you're experiencing brief episodes or ongoing bouts, the duration of vertigo largely depends on the underlying cause and the type of vertigo you have. Table of Contents What Is Vertigo? How Long Does Vertigo Last? Can Stress Cause Vertigo? How to Prevent Vertigo Visit AFC ${city ...

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As the temperature drops and winter settles in, many people struggle with increased body aches and joint pain. It's a common experience to feel more discomfort during the colder months, and while it may seem like a simple coincidence, there's more to this phenomenon than meets the eye. Table of Contents Why Do My Joints Hurt When It's Cold? Strategies to Manage Body Aches and Joint Pain in Winter Concerned About Your ...

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If you’ve recently enjoyed some time in a hot tub and now find yourself dealing with an itchy, bothersome rash, you might be experiencing what’s commonly referred to as hot tub rash, also known as hot tub folliculitis. A hot tub rash — with itchy, bumpy, red skin — is an infection from common bacteria in hot tubs and swimming pools. Learn how to treat it. Save Your Spot Table of Contents What Is It? Signs and ...

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Getting strep throat during pregnancy doesn’t have to be scary. Here’s what to know about treating your symptoms. Save Your Spot Table of Contents How Do I Know If I Have Strep Throat? Risks of Getting Strep Throat While Pregnant Strep Throat Treatment Preventing Strep Throat During Pregnancy Visit AFC for Answers How Do I Know If I Have Strep Throat? A bacterial infection causes strep throat and typically comes with a sudden onset of ...

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If you’ve twisted your ankle or sprained your wrist, you may have been told to follow the RICE method. RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation, and it can help soothe injured joints and tissues. Save Your Spot What Is RICE? RICE is a self-care technique that can relieve pain, reduce swelling, and speed up the recovery process for minor musculoskeletal injuries such as sprains, strains, and bruises. Medical providers often use it as part ...

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Can exercise improve your mood? Regular aerobic activities like jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, and even dancing have been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Understanding how exercise impacts both your body and mind can empower you to use physical activity as a tool for better mental well-being. Exercise Can Improve Your Mood When you exercise, your body does more than just burn calories—it also enhances brain function. One key way exercise boosts ...

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When you have a cough, a runny nose and a rise in body temperature, how can you determine whether this is a cold or a sinus infection? You've likely heard the adage, 'a cold is common,' but you might not have heard, 'a sinus infection is common.' Colds are considered common, whereas acute bacterial infections of the sinuses are serious, and they often develop after a cold. This article highlights the difference between a ...

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When faced with a cold, flu, or other illness, body aches and pains can be one of the worst symptoms. These aches stem from your natural immune response – when the body’s immune system works hard to fight an infection leading to tiredness and aching of the body. Luckily, there are different methods of dealing with such pains that will enable you to heal faster. In this blog, we’ll explore various ways you can ...

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If you’re feeling a ringing in your ears and dizziness, the causes could range from dehydration to vertigo to Meniere’s disease. Learn more. Save Your Spot What Is Tinnitus? A ringing, buzzing, or hissing noise in the ears when no outside sounds are happening is called tinnitus. It’s often a symptom of various conditions but can occur due to exposure to loud noise, earwax accumulation, or age-related hearing loss. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and ...

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Experiencing pain under your right breast? Luckily, the Mayo Clinic says this pain is rarely a concern for breast cancer, nor is it closely associated with heart attacks because your heart is mainly on the left side of your chest. Everyone, not just women, can suffer from sharp pain under their right breast. It can be recurrent or pop up and a sign of multiple different concerns, ranging from mild to serious. Learn more about ...

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Strep throat is a bacterial infection that’s most common in children, but it can affect anyone. This infection typically requires antibiotic treatment to get better, and symptoms will continue to get worse until they’re too painful to ignore. That being said, it’s always better to seek treatment early! Identifying the earliest warning signs of strep could save you a lot of time and pain when you get the treatment you need quicker ...

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A sudden fever can be pretty worrying and might make you think about what’s going on with your health. The flu is one of the most common reasons for a sudden fever, especially during certain times of the year. But how do you know if your fever means you’ve got the flu or something else? Knowing the signs of the flu and when to get medical help can really help you stay on ...

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Is psoriasis itching? Read on to learn more about this skin disease. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition caused by an overactive immune system, which leads to the rapid buildup of skin cells. While itching is one of the most common symptoms of psoriasis, it’s far from the only challenge those with the condition face. Flare-ups, where symptoms worsen significantly, can be triggered by a variety of factors, making it crucial to understand what ...

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